Here are 10 things you should know about what 2009 will bring to a body of water near you:

1. Bad economy might equal good prices

Expecting that economic fears will turn passengers into landlubbers, cruise lines are “just trying to sell everything they can,” says Brown of Cruise Critic. “High summer in Alaska, high summer in Europe? I’d buy them now.” While the lines dread serious discounts, the fact is they can’t sell umbrella drinks and spa treatments to empty beds. Says Paul Motter, editor of online resource Cruise Mates (cruisemates.com): “It all depends on where the economy goes. If it gets better soon, I would say the best prices may be out there right now. A gambler might wait and see if the economy tanks. The question is if it tanks, can you still afford that cruise?”

2. There’s no place like home ports

Even with the euro sinking to reasonable levels, expect a big return to domestic cruising. Even the North American lines that put their best ships in the booming Mediterranean and Baltic are moving most of them back. “I think the Caribbean is going to be quite topical this year,” says Brown. “Close to home is going to be the other huge thing. If (passengers) can cut the experience and expense of flying, they’ll do it.” With renewed interest in U.S. ports, cruisers benefit doubly from lower fuel prices: the discontinued fuel surcharge (more on that later); driving to a home port is again cheaper than flying.

3. European fare is fair

Don’t expect big-ship sailing in Europe to die, however, even with the tight economy. The cruise lines want to move cabins and the euro is far more reasonable, so what’s the X factor? “The big question is, what will airfare to Europe be like next summer?” says Motter. “Cruises could be reasonable (fuel is cheaper, the dollar is stronger), but air is the question.”

4. Fuel charges up in smoke

The fuel surcharges introduced last year when oil was more expensive per ounce than French perfume have all but disappeared. On average, that’s $140 per couple back in your pocket. Fallout is likely, however, because the surcharge was a great source of revenue that didn’t increase the advertised price. “So cruises are now much cheaper,” says Motter. “But prices will rise to compensate for lost surcharges as much as the lines can and not kill business.” Also, the lines reserve the right to reinstate the charge when necessary. Cruise pricing by OPEC. Great.

5. Rolling up the Rhine

There hasn’t been this much action on European rivers since, well, ever. Several river cruise operators are on building sprees – AMA Waterways is set to launch two new boats per year from 2008 to 2010 – presumably in anticipation of river-loving throngs. There are roughly a million river cruisers worldwide, according to Douglas Ward, author of “Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise ships,” and the number of boats plying the Danube alone has doubled in the past two or three years. “It’s definitely booming.” But what about global economic woes? The typical upscale European river cruiser, according to one company spokeswoman, isn’t too worried about it. The question: Will any of the companies tap into a younger, more active market?

6. Size matters: Oasis of the Seas ready to reign

At 220,000 tons and with space for 5,400 passengers (two per cabin), Oasis of the Seas will be a third larger than the current record holder (also owned by Royal Caribbean) when it lumbers out of port in November. Features: a 10-story slot down the middle lined with 300 balcony cabins and themed neighborhoods, a bar that also serves as an elevator, and zip-line rides. Is big a big deal? “It’s the most important ship of the decade, a major bright spot on a somewhat gloomy horizon,” says Brown. “It’s an event ship. You do not care where it’s going or if it even moves.” The downside: When it does dock, 5,400 passengers are all headed for the exits. Yikes.

7. Pirates of the Gulf of Aden

A couple years ago, it was a punchline. Somali pirates attacked a luxury cruise ship, but were repelled by a Flash Gordon-style sonic gun. Pirates in Somalia – which has no government to speak of and, therefore, no economy – have since nabbed a few dozen oil tankers and freighters. And because of a few close calls, most recently an attack on Nautica, an Oceania Cruises ship, one cruise line is removing passengers from ships that sail the region. “We certainly hope they’re not successful in boarding a cruise ship,” says Ward, who added that the number of affected cruises is relatively small. Increasing interest by North American lines in Dubai, Oman and the Persian Gulf, however, could change that.

8. Proud queens no longer rolling on a river

Less than two years after Majestic America Lines tried to corner the market on U.S. river paddlewheelers, the company closed shop in December, leaving the Columbia Queen, American Queen, Delta Queen and Mississippi Queen (as well as Empress of the North) to languish at docks across the country. The boats are on the block, but a quick sale seems iffy at best. “It would be a great shame for it to be the end of the steamboat era,” says Ward. “I doubt if someone is going to come along in these economic times and buy the whole company.” The loss is a big blow to U.S. river cruising, says Motter. “There is nothing overnight on the Mississippi River System except for ‘barge cruises,’ which is not a cruise experience.”

9. Last of Hawaii’s Pride

Norwegian Cruise Line’s last U.S.-flagged ship, Pride of America, will continue to sail weeklong trips around the Hawaiian Isles under an agreement the company signed with state officials December. Pride of Aloha and Pride of Hawaii, the other two ships that were U.S. registered (allowing them to sail U.S. ports without stopping at a foreign port), were both renamed, reregistered and reassigned last year in the wake of company losses from the service.

10. Plus-size 2009 fleet

About the only economy not hurting these days is the economy of scale within the cruise industry. The ships keep getting bigger – Carnival, Celebrity and MSC are all building ships that top or tie fleet records for largest, and Royal Caribbean will unleash a new behemoth roughly the size of Pittsburgh (but with better restaurants). And it’s not just the big, mass-market companies; the luxury lines are building ships that, according to Motter are 40 percent bigger than existing ships.

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